Last Updated:
Aradhana Mishra appointed new UP Congress Chief, Imran Masood Working President ahead of 2027 polls.
Aradhana Mishra Appointed New UP Congress Chief
The Congress has appointed three-time Rampur Khas MLA Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ as the new Uttar Pradesh Congress president, replacing Ajay Rai ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Saharanpur MP Imran Masood has been named working president as part of the party’s organisational reshuffle.
Mishra, daughter of veteran Congress leader Pramod Tiwari and close to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, currently serves as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Masood’s appointment is aimed at broadening the party’s outreach, including among Muslim voters.
On being appointed as the President of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, Aradhana Misra Mona said, “I would like to express my gratitude to the National President of the All India Congress Committee, Kharge ji, as well as the respected Sonia ji, Rahul ji, and Priyanka ji, for placing their trust in me. I belong to the fourth generation of my family in the Congress, and I will discharge this responsibility with complete dedication and honesty…For the Congress party, caste, community, and religion have never been issues of political contention. The Congress is a party that has taken the entire nation along and will continue to do so. We will take everyone along, every caste, every community, and every religion…The INDIA Alliance will contest the 2027 elections with full strength and vigour. The top leadership will decide where, how, and to what extent the battle will be fought; that decision rests with them…”
“Ajay Rai ji is like an elder brother to me. His affection and blessings have always been with me, and they will continue to be so in the future,” she added.
New leadership ahead of 2027 polls
Aradhana Mishra, a three-time MLA from Rampur Khas in Pratapgarh, will take over as the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief. She replaces Ajay Rai, who has headed the state Congress since August 2023. The change comes as the party prepares for the 2027 Assembly elections and looks to reset its organisation in the state.
Mishra’s appointment also brings a Brahmin face to the top post in the state Congress. The party is looking to use her political background and organisational connections as it prepares for the elections.
At A Glance
Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ has been appointed the new Uttar Pradesh Congress president.
Mishra is a three-time MLA from Rampur Khas.
Saharanpur MP Imran Masood has been named working president.
Mishra replaces Ajay Rai as the state Congress chief.
The changes are made ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Masood, the Congress MP from Saharanpur, has been appointed working president. His role is expected to help the party expand its outreach, particularly among Muslim voters.
Why has Congress changed its UP leadership?
The reshuffle comes amid preparations for the 2027 polls and internal discussions within the party over organisational performance, candidate selection and the need for a more aggressive approach against the BJP-led state government. Caste arithmetic is also an important factor in the party’s strategy. With Mishra coming from a Brahmin family and being the daughter of veteran Congress leader Pramod Tiwari, the party is looking to consolidate upper-caste support while retaining its existing support base.
The appointment of Masood as working president is expected to complement this strategy by giving the party a prominent Muslim face in its state leadership.
Who is Aradhana Mishra?
Mishra comes from a prominent Congress political family. She is the daughter of former Union minister and longtime Congress strategist Pramod Tiwari, giving her established connections within the party’s central and state leadership. She represents Rampur Khas and has won the constituency three times. She is also currently the Congress Legislature Party leader in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
Her legislative position and political background make her both an organisational and legislative face of the party in Uttar Pradesh.
With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, the Congress is now looking to the new leadership team of Mishra and Masood to strengthen its organisation and outreach in the state.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’, a three-time MLA from Rampur Khas, has been appointed as the new Uttar Pradesh Congress president, replacing Ajay Rai.
Ask News18About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra is an Indian journalist with about nine years of experience in covering national politics, geopolitics, defence, diplomacy and international affairs. Her reporting focuses on South As…Read More
Delhi, India, India
October 02, 2026, 21:23 IST
Read More
